Simulated target pigeon

Abstract

A two-piece target pigeon composed of (a) a ring with propeller wings extending radially and which are tilted in propeller fashion so that when spun about the centerline axis of the ring by a launching apparatus, the ring will displace itself axially through the air; and (b) a detachable target piece which is carried by the propellered ring in flight. Structure on the target pieces mutually intercooperate to hold the ring and target piece together in flight and to release the target when hit in flight by pellets. The structure includes legs with footed distal ends which disengage from the ring upon impact, so that the target will fall to earth simulating a "dead bird" while the propellered hub will continue in flight.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A target pigeon, comprising a generally cylindrical ring part centered on an axis;   two angularly spaced blades extending radially outwardly from said ring part and each located in a respective plane lying at an acute angle to said axis and inclined propeller-fashion to the plane of the other blade;   a witness part lying generally in a plane perpendicular to said axis and having an outer periphery generally axially aligned with said ring part; and   two angularly spaced axially extending and radially deflectable legs formed on one of said parts and extending therefrom axially past the other of said parts, each of said legs having a radially extending foot formed with a surface facing toward the other of said parts and having one surface portion engaging said other part and another surface portion which is inclined radially outwardly of and axially away from said other part and includes an acute angle with said axis, each of said beveled surface portions being engageable with said other part on axial stressing of said parts away from each other to cam the respective leg inwardly and thereby detach said parts from each other when said pigeon is impacted while in flight.   
     
     
       2. The pigeon defined in claim 1 wherein said beveled surface portion of each leg includes an angle of generally 45° with said axis. 
     
     
       3. The pigeon defined in claim 1 wherein said witness part is a disk having a cylindrical rim constituting said periphery. 
     
     
       4. The pigeon defined in claim 3, and further comprising axially interengaging formations between said periphery and said ring part, whereby said parts are connected for joint rotation about said axis. 
     
     
       5. The pigeon defined in claim 1 wherein said parts are each made integrally. 
     
     
       6. The pigeon defined in claim 1 wherein said legs extend from said periphery past said ring part. 
     
     
       7. The pigeon defined in claim 6, wherein said feet extend radially outwardly from the respective legs. 
     
     
       8. A target pigeon, comprising a generally cylindrical hub ring centered on an axis;   at least two angularly equispaced blades extending radially outwardly from said hub ring and each lying in a respective plane lying at an acute angle to said axis and inclined propeller-fashion to the plane of the other blade;   a cap at one axial side of said hub ring and lying generally in a plane perpendicular to said axis, said cap having a generally cylindrical periphery axially aligned with and axially bearing on said hub ring; and   at least two angularly equispaced connecting legs each extending axially from said cap past said hub ring to the other axial side thereof, each of said legs being radially deflectable and having one axial end secured to said cap and another end formed with a radially projecting foot extending radially of said hub ring and having a bearing surface which is engaged against said other axial side and a radially outer surface portion of which is located in a plane extending at an angle of 45° to said axis and is bevelled in direction radially outwardly and away from said other axial side so that there is a reduced surface-to-surface contact between said bearing surface and said other axial side which is sufficient to prevent separation of said cap from said hub ring when said pigeon is merely in flight but is minimal enough to result in their immediate separation when the pigeon is impacted while in flight.   
     
     
       9. The pigeon defined in claim 8 wherein said periphery and said hub ring are formed with axially extending interengaging formations inhibiting relative rotation of said cap of and said hub ring about said axis.